Johnson benching has rival clubs waiting for an opening

Date: May 24 2013

Brad Walter

Rival NRL clubs are closely monitoring the relationship between Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson and coach Matthew Elliott in case the Kiwis international suddenly becomes available. Johnson is under contract to the Warriors for a further two years but the 22-year-old made it obvious he wasn't happy after being benched by Elliott early in the second half at Penrith last Saturday night. The incident reminded some of the time former Warriors coach Daniel Anderson hooked star halfback Stacey Jones from the field during a match against Canterbury in 2004. While there is no suggestion Johnson will seek a release, he has attracted interest from rival clubs for some time and SinBin was told earlier in the season the Bulldogs were keeping a close eye on whether he got on with Elliott. The Dragons, Panthers, Broncos and Titans are also likely to pounce if an opportunity arises.

Saint Luke

Penrith halfback Luke Walsh and prop Mose Masoe have been linked with Super League club St Helens. Saints coach Nathan Brown has confirmed his interest in Walsh but insists no deal has been done. However, sources in England have told SinBin that Walsh and Masoe will join St Helens next season and predict Walsh could become the No.1 halfback in Super League.

Spiritual home

Friday night's match against North Queensland will be a special occasion for Wests Tigers halfback Curtis Sironen as it is his first NRL game at Leichhardt Oval, where he watched his father Paul play for Balmain. Sironen was five when he led the Tigers on to Leichhardt Oval for his father's farewell match in 1998.

Farrell switch

St George Illawarra recruit Dylan Farrell has emerged as a five-eighth option for the club next season, with the South Coast junior having grown up playing the position. SinBin was told the Dragons are considering playing Farrell, a centre for South Sydney, at five-eighth and England international Gareth Widdop at halfback if they are unable to recruit another top-line playmaker to partner the Storm star at the scrum-base.

Top Dog close

The new Canterbury chief executive is expected to be announced next week after a further round of interviews on Thursday. Bulldogs officials want to appoint Todd Greenberg's replacement by the end of the month in the belief the successful candidate will need to give four weeks' notice to their employer. It is then hoped Greenberg can spend four weeks working with his successor before starting as the NRL's head of game in July. SinBin was told Dogs coach Des Hasler will meet the final candidates but will not have a say in the appointment.

Roy up to speed

The NRL's decision to crack down on time-wasting comes less than three weeks after Fairfax columnist Roy Masters outlined the tactics being used to slow the game. Masters wrote on May 3 that teams struggling to keep pace with the likes of Souths, Melbourne, the Roosters and Manly were dawdling to scrums and using the 40 seconds allotted for line drop-outs. The NRL this week announced teams have 30 seconds to pack a scrum and to take goal-line drop-outs.

Back-up plans

With more than 10 per cent of players in the game's history playing only one premiership match, the NRL has put greater emphasis on career programs to ensure they have other options. The stunning statistic was mentioned at the launch of the CareerWise and Trading Up With the NRL programs at the Career Development Association of Australia conference in Sydney on Thursday. The programs will apply to more than 2000 elite players.

Roast for Ryan

Former Illawarra Steelers prop Peter ''Pedro'' Ryan, who also played for Cronulla, North Sydney and Newtown, is suffering from Parkinson's disease and has decided to undergo a medical procedure aimed at improving his quality of life. To assist with the considerable cost, a ''roast'' will be held in his honour at Kirra Beach Hotel on the Gold Coast on June 21. Tickets for the benefit lunch can be purchased from: Kirra Beach Hotel, (07) 5536 3311; Greenmount Surf Club, (07) 5536 1506; or Coolangatta Bowls Club, (07) 5536 6677.

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